Hobbyhorse



Jan. 8 1924.

' E. G. ROBESON HOBBYHORSE Original Filed March 1918 Romulus Patented den. 8, 1924.

UNETE STATES sateen RNA ROBESON, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

HOBBYHDME.

Substitute for application Serial No. 220,035, fi1ed-March'2, 1918. This application filed. August 8, 1922.

Serial no. 580,581.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDNA G. RoBnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hobbyhorses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hobby horses and more particularly to devices of that character adapted to progressively move across the floor as they are operated. One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical hobby horse of the above general character adapted to be moved forward in a step by step manner when operated by the child riding thereon. Another object is to provide a device of the above character having relatively few parts which may be inexpensively made and assembled and may be safely operated by a child riding thereon either to roll or coast on an incline as well as to progressively move forward in a step by step manner. A further object is to provide a de-,

' vice of the above character of durable and substantial construction which may be operated with the less liability of marring the furniture and floor than other devices of this general character. A. further object is to provide a device which will hold a child sitting on its back and be made to move a step at a time by the backward and forward movement of the child.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of the invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of .parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerousmodifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention,

drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure. 1 is a side elevation showing the device in one operative position, while Figure 2 shows the same device in its other position; and Figure 3 is an end view of the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 5 denotes the body of the hobby horse preferably madeof several thicknesses of wood and shaped more or less to the general form of a horse or other animal. The body is provided with a widened central portion 6 to form a seat for the child and also to permit a greater freedom of movement of the propelling means. The body of the horse is supported by a post or other support 7 carrying rollers 8 at its lower end adapted to travel along the floor. This post 7"occupies a relatively fixed position with respect to the body at all times. At the forward part of the body are rigidly connected a pair of front legs 10' secured and braced in any desired manner, while pivotally connected at 11 are two hind legs 12 having a limited front and back swinging movement about the pivot. This movement is preferably limited by means of a'brace 13 on the legs adapted to engage a slotted section of. the body, as shown by dotted lines. The front legs are preferably of less perpendicular length than the support 7 and are provided with bracing pins or stirrups 14 for supporting the childs feet, while handles 15 are secured to the neck or head in order that the child may steady itself during the movement of the device. The front legs. may have small wheels 18 for the purpose of allowing the device to coast on an incline or slip along a little further on the floor. It is, of course, to be understood that the rollers 8 and 18 and the ends of the back legs may be provided with rubber or other suitable cushioning means 20, adapted to take up the shock and also to prevent slipping or marring of the floor or furniture as the child rocks.

The device is operated in substantially the following manner: Assuming the horse to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the child straddles the body portion with its feet resting on the stirrup 14 and. grasping the handles 15, leans forwardly until the center of gravity of the entire mass is forward of the wheels 8'at which time the horse tilts forwardly and downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the front legs resting on the floor. When the horse assumes this position the legs 12 slide along the floor or move from the position shown in Fig. 1 until they come as near as possible to the roller 8. Then as the child leans backwardly the center of gravity again shifts to the other side of the roller 8 and the hind legs act as a propelling means to move the entire device, in a general forward direction, with the exception of that portion of the hind legs in contact with the floor, and'this move ment lifts the front legs from the floor.

It is believed from the above description that the construction and manner of operating the device herein disclosed is clear and it will be seen that the invention accomplishes, among others, all of the objects and advantages herein set forth.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current. knowledge readily adapt it for various applica tions'without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential charactertistics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency, of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member, a support rigidly connected therewith and about which the body member rocks, roller means at the end of said support, legs pivoted to the rear part of said body member whereby as the body member tilts forwardly said legs will swing toward said support, and means to limit the pivotal movement of the legs.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member, a support rigidly connected near the central part thereof, rollers at the lower end of said support, I legs at the front and back'of said body member, the rear legs being pivotally conneraeeo nected with the body member, and adapted to swing forward as the body rocks about said support, and means to limit the pivotal widened seat portion, a support extending downwardly below said seat, roller means at the end of said support adapted to travel along the floor, front legs of less perpendicular height than said support connected rigidly with said body member, pivotally mounted hind legs connected with said body member adapted to swing forwardly towards the support as the body member is tilted forwardly to be supported by the front legs, and means to limit the pivotal movement of said hind legs 5. In a device of the'character described, in combination, a body member, a support extending downwardly therefrom, roller means at the end of said support adapted to travel along the floor, front legs connected rigidly with said body member, pivotally mounted hind le s connected with said body member adapte to swing forwardly towards the support as the body member is tilted and rests on the front legs, means to limit the pivotal movement of the rear legs and cushioning means associated with said roller means,

EDNA G. RQBESUN, 

